Flexible coupling



GEORGE E. THOMAS, orwns'rrmnn; NEW YORK.

l FLEXIBLE. COUPLING.

Original application filed May e, 1918, Serial no. 232.819. Divided and this, application filed December 31,

' I 1921, Serial No. 526,353.

To allwlwmitmayconcm:

Be it known that'I, GEORGE H. THOMAS, a citizen of-the United States, residing at Westfield, -in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will en able others skilled in the art to which it appertains" to make and use the same, refer-f t1ve angularity of the two flanges A A is ence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked" thereon, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to; flexible shaft couplings in which the flexible -element consists of a series of flat metallicrings, each. ring {consisting of laminationsycompdsed of a plurality of thin metallic rings cut from sheet metal.

pling, and for securing said laminated rings,

- together in pairs as is hereinafter partic1ient application having been cancelled out of.

coupling body flanges keyed upon shaft :illustrated whichz .1.

larly shown anddescribed this application -bored holes a at diametrically opposite .PQlIltS, into which'holes a the posts- C are being-a divisional application of my prior gfplication, Serial N umber 232,819, filed ay 6, 1918; the subject matter of the ressaid prior application by. amendment dated The objects-0f my invention are to pro= vide means for firmly securing adjacent rings together, and to the coupling bodies, so thatthere willbe no movement of said rings in the fastenings, "so that-said fascannot work loose during the operaafterexplained and pointed out, and are in the accompanying drawings in Figure '1', is a side elevation of a flexible shaft coupling embodying my invention.

Figure 2, is a vertical section of a fragmentthereof, indicatedby the broken line H in Fig. 1.

Figure 3, is a. like view showingan alternative construction. 4

In these drawings A A indicate duplicate ends A, A ;1 B, B, B and B indicate aseries of laminated rings, the ring B being'secured to the left hand flange A, by

"means-of my improved fastening, at dia V I My invention relates particularly to means for securing said lain-' compensated for by the flexibility of the laminated rings B to B inclusive.

In constructing the fastenings of therings- B to B inclusive, the rings are provided with 'four diametrically opposite holes equally spaced, In the rings B and B at diametrically opposite points I place two posts C, which are provided with flat heads -0- to engage the rin B. The posts C are providedwith centra screw threaded open: ings into whichthe tap screws C are screwed as hereinafter described.

The flanges A are provided with counter- 4 and the right hand I forced; said posts fitting tightly into the counter-bored holes a in the flanges A, and

said tap screws C are put in place, which draw the rings B and B toward the flanges A untilthe spacer rings D firmly engage the rings Band B and flanges A.

' he fastenings for the adjacent intermediate rings are duplicates of each other, and consist ,preferabl are preferably counter-sunk as indicated by e. Uponthe inwardly projecting ends of of duplicate thimbles. E E (see Fig. 2 which' are provided on their outer ends with radial flanges e; the

the thimbles E, and between the ringsVB and B I placespacerirings'l), which overla the meeting joint between the two th1mbles,*and snugly fit thereon; and I then secure said thimbles E together, preferably by means of a rivet F,'which, if put in and headed up while hot, draws the two thimbles firmly together and securely clamps the rings 13 and B between the flange e of the I thimbles-and the spacer ring I);

my invention same, I do not desir to be limited to the .exact construction shown and described, as

In the alternative construction shown in Fig.3, oneof the thimbles E is provided -with a screw threaded 'opening'e and the thimbjles are securedtogether by means of a eap-s'crewI the head thereof entering into the counter bored opening 6 From the foregoing description and the drawings, the construction a d operation of my invention will'doe obvious to those skilled in the art, and further description thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.

Having thus so that others can utilize the many alterations and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of my invention. Therefore what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I v

- 1. In a flexible coupling, a flexible element comprised. of a plurality of in which adjacentrings are secured together;

at diametrically opposite points, the successive pairs of fastenings being in successive staggered relation,

fully shown and described flexible rings, I

.a coupling body at each means? side of said flexible element; said bodies being provided with openings 'therethrough at diametrically opposite points, posts in the outermost rings of said flexilolle'element and entering said counter bored openings, spacer rings on said posts between said outermost said flexible rings, a spacer ring" between 7 said flexible rings overlapping. the joint between said thimbles, and means to secure said thimbles together. P m 1 3. In a flexible shaft coupling, a pair of flexible rings having transverse openings therethrough, thimbles in said openings hav- 1ng central openings therethrough, flangeson the ou terends of said-thimbles engaging .said flexible rings, a spacer ring between said flexible rings overlapping the joint be tween said thimbles, and a rivet passing said thimbles. f P

In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature.

eno aen rr, riiorms 

